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The recent cut in China’s reserve requirement ratio looks like bad news for the offshore renminbi market, pushing down funding costs at home at a time when the dim sum market is looking less and less attractive. But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of the offshore renminbi debt market.

The UK-headquartered bank was considered the best for overall offshore renminbi services and the standout institution across a set of other categories in ASIAMONEY's debut survey of this growing market.

— Joanne Medero, managing director in the Government Relations Group at BlackRock in San Francisco, on how the Department of Labor’s rules could make it tough for swap dealers to clear over-the-counter swaps for pension funds.

JP Morgan has lost over USD2 billion since April 1 because of credit default swap positions taken by the firm’s London chief investment office.

JP Morgan Chase has been hit by $2 billion in trading losses and could face an additional $1 billion loss, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in a conference call after U.S. markets closed today.

Analysts share their views on the prospects for Chinese high yield bonds.

Hanoi is trying to solve its economic and financial problems by consolidating its banking sector. But the country has a patchy track record of implementing reform and the government’s M&A plans remain sketchy on the detail. Alexander Lobov reports.

As China liberalises its capital account and pushes for a more internationalised renminbi, Hong Kong’s role as the powerful intermediary between the mainland and the global financial market will diminish. Is there anything the financial hub can do to retain its present allure? Anita Davis reports.

Basel III’s new ratio requirements will likely impair global trade as it does not do enough to define the difference between trade finance and other forms of leverage. Richard Morrow and Chien Mi Wong report.

Asia-centric financial institutions are looking to capitalise on trade finance opportunities as European banks reduce balance sheet support and intra-Asia trade flows intensify. Chien Mi Wong reports.

François Hollande’s victory in the presidential election gives investors reason to be even more concerned about France’s creditworthiness, writes Nicholas Spiro.

Foreign investors are hungry to get access to China’s capital markets, and the small moves to allow investor inflows are nowhere near enough to sate their appetite. But investor protection in the country is not strong enough, and foreign investors should take great care before investing in the mainland market.